10th Mountain Division Soldier
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Sgt 1st Class Ritchie A. Morgan, 41, dies while on duty.
/ Photo Courtesy of Fort Drum Public Affairs
FORT DRUM, JEFFERSON COUNTY -- A 10th Mountain Division Soldier died Jan. 28 at Samaritan Medical Center in Watertown after complaining of chest pains while on duty.
Sgt 1st Class Ritchie A. Morgan, 41, was a food service noncommissioned officer assigned to 6th Squadron, 6th Cavalry Regiment, 10th Combat Aviation Brigade. He was initially transported to Guthrie Acute Care Clinic where life-saving measures were preformed before he was transported to SMC.
Morgan, a native of Murphysboro, Ill., joined the Army in September 1987 and was initially assigned to Korea until January 1988. He was assigned to 6th Battalion, 37th Field Artillery Regiment based at Camp Stanley, Korea, from September 1989 to September 1990. He was reassigned to Fort Carson, Colo., where he served with 2nd Battalion, 77th Armor Regiment. In May 1993, Morgan was reassigned to 1st Battalion, 7th Air Defense Artillery Battalion in Germany and was later reassigned to 3rd Battalion, 7th Infantry Regiment at Fort Stewart, Ga., from July 1997 to January 2001. He further served at Fort Stewart with 3rd Battalion, 69th Armor Regiment until October 2002. Morgan was assigned as an Army Recruiter in Mission Viejo, Calif., from October 2002 until November 2003.
In November 2003 Morgan was assigned to Fort Drum and the 10th Mountain Division.
Morgan's deployments include a six month tour in Kuwait from February 1998 to August 1998 and another six month tour in Macedonia from May 2001 to November 2001.
His military education includes the Advanced Noncommissioned Officer Course, Basic Noncommissioned Officer Course and the Primary Leadership Development Course.
Morgan's awards and decorations include the Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal, Army Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Korea Defense Service Medal, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, Kosovo Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Noncommissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon and the NATO Medal.
He is survived by his wife of Fort Drum. The cause of death is under investigation.
Press Release provided by Fort Drum.
